A DRAMATIC operation is underway to save holiday flights from Coventry Airport.

Bosses at Baginton have been talking to 19 airlines since Thomsonfly announced it was quitting the city.

At least three of the firms are big names who believe Coventry has potential for future passenger flights.

Although the airlines are not being identified, bosses claim they are looking at European and British companies, who could replace Thomsonfly.

The Telegraph reported yesterday that the low-cost flights from Baginton would end next month.

The airport's chief executive Chris Orphanou says he's optimistic about the future and revealed steps were already in place to find a replacement airline.

He said: "Everyone needs to appreciate that a regional airport of our size is often confronted with challenges.

"We are looking at a few areas where we can develop, and are already looking to persuade other carriers to come in with us. At Coventry Airport we have a dedicated team, whose job it is to speak to similar airlines to Thomsonfly. We have spoken to 19 carriers. Of those three or four are big play-ers who saw Coventry as having potential."

He denied that competition from Birmingham Airport had led to Thomsonfly's decision. They have been running 35 flights a week from Coventry to eight European destinations.

The announcement from Thomsonfly came days after a High Court judge threw out the airport's appeal to build a new passenger terminal.

The terminal would have doubled the airport's capacity to two million passengers a year. But Mr Orphanou said: "Birmingham's strategy is to service the long-haul market, whereas Coventry could look at the hotspots of the leisure area, such as Greece, Spain and Turkey.

"There is a market there that Birmingham doesn't have and I think Coventry and Birmingham could complement each other. I do not see Birmingham as a threat.

"We have got to be given the opportunity to see where we go from here. We need to look at alternatives and get everybody on board.

"There is a real chance of prosperity for the community and region as a whole. It will benefit the city if the airport is successful.

"Supporting Coventry is not just a task for myself and staff at the airport, it should be everybody getting involved."

The final Thomsonfly flights from Coventry will be on November 2, with the last holidaymakers arriving back on November 9. Anyone due to fly later will have to change their plans.

Thomsonfly has pledged to contact them to offer alternative arrangements or a refund.